306 A 1 TEND IX 



harsh, ii is also more di -lislit ideas are expelled frm the 



social mind in tin- art of formal voting by any deliberative 1> 

 of human beings, whether at an election, in legislative assembly, 

 or by the popular initiative, referendum, and tin- recall of ! 

 officials. 



Assuming for the moment that this pro|>oscd terminology, 

 which I believe corresponds to real and significant distinctions, 

 meets with your approval, let me conclude with a brief examina- 

 tion of the types of adaptation attained l.y social as contrasted 

 with societal selection. If we consider social adaptation as such 

 a relationship between human individuals, social <_rroups, or in- 

 stitutions as is favorable to existence and growth, 44 then analysis 

 discloses the following facts. 



Social selection working on the physical plane exterminates the 

 antisocial and solves the problem of the social order so that it 

 stays solved. It works on instinct and evolves a human type with 

 inborn social tendencies. lint the process is expensive, The 

 criteria of social selection are often set by blind social conditions 

 or accidentally and ignorantly attained. Unequable tax system 

 and impediments upon the marriage of the intellectual discour- 

 age propagation of the best stock. The machinery of social 

 lection is rude. As often as not the innocent man is lynched, and 

 justice frequently miscarries. There is no racial ^ain from the 

 vicarious death penalty. AmoiiL' the Tlinrit Indians when a 

 murderer is not hiirh caste enough to atone for the dead man. 

 an innocent man of the same caste who b"longs to the kin of the 

 offender is killed. 46 Social selection is unduly harsh in case of 

 minor otVenses. The primitive man who revealed tribal secrets or 

 married in violation of his class or totem rules was killed. Even 

 in England it was not until is:r_> that the death penalty 

 sheep, cattle, and horse stealing was abolished. 4 * Finally social 

 tion fails to recognize in certain type* of psychic variation 

 a higher social usefulness than is apparent on the surface, and 90 

 genius and original ability have been ruthlessly crushed out. 



L. M. P,ri-i..|. N'-< -inl Adaptation (('auil.ri. !;_'. 1915), p. 8. 

 * Twenty-sixth Annual if>-jnrt. linn mi <,f \m<r\in Ethnology, p. JIM. 

 '. I li.n. llittory of the Criminal Law of England, I (London, 

 74-75. 



